diff --git a/src/process.c b/src/process.c
index 7d84a7ce74c..af7cf2a28fb 100644
--- a/src/process.c
+++ b/src/process.c
@@ -266,6 +266,8 @@ extern int timers_run;
 /* Maximum number of bytes to send to a pty without an eof.  */
 static int pty_max_bytes;
 
+extern Lisp_Object Vfile_name_coding_system;
+
 #ifdef HAVE_PTYS
 /* The file name of the pty opened by allocate_pty.  */
 
@@ -1453,6 +1455,9 @@ create_process (process, new_argv, current_dir)
        Protect it from permanent change.  */
     char **save_environ = environ;
 
+    current_dir
+      = Fencode_coding_string (current_dir, Vfile_name_coding_system, Qt);
+
 #ifndef WINDOWSNT
     pid = vfork ();
     if (pid == 0)